White Lotus Dragon and Lion Dance is the only not for profit team in the Portland, Oregon area. We came together as a group of inspirational young individuals that wanted a way to not only benefit local charities, but also to spread cultural awareness, while bonding as a group and having fun in the process.

Thien Hoang

My role in lion dancing has evolved tremendously over the past 11 years. When I was 13, I was warmly welcomed not by a lion dance team, but by a close knit group of friends. It didn’t take long before I felt part of the family. I started off as the Buddha for a year. Playing with kids, fanning audience members, smacking the lion; it was all fun.

As I grew up and grew stronger I transitioned into the head role 6 years ago. I learned so much, as this was also the time the team transitioned from the more traditional Fut San dancing style to the more modernized Hok san style. This was a hard transition as a team, due to a multifaceted problems: members leaving for college, no sensei to teach hok san, and not having extra free time to practice. Luckily the bond between the members never wavered and we stuck through this hard time. We continued to dance and impress people all over the NW, even getting noticed by America’s got Talent for an audition. And as we continued to WOW people young and old, our numbers began to swell. And now my role has begun to change once again.

Today I still dance in the head of the lion, but it’s almost time to put down the head and pick up another role. It’s time to pass on the knowledge that I’ve accumulated over the years to the younger members. Even though my role has changed throughout the past 11 years, one thing has remained the same: the bond that I’ve created with the other team members. Our passion for lion dancing has been rock steady throughout the past years, and it’s time to pass that torch onto the next generation of White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance Organization team.